Immigrant-owned grocers to sue over Mamdani’s – Business News
A gaggle of immigrant-owned grocers who’ve threatened to sue New York City over Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to open government-owned supermarkets is poised to take legal motion as quickly as this week, The Post has discovered.
The Multicultural Business Coalition, which is comprised of 50 chambers of commerce representing ethnically numerous companies, made a last-ditch effort to keep away from litigation in a letter to City Hall on Wednesday.
“Although we have not heard from you since May 2026, we are open to resolving this matter amicably with more sensible solutions to feed working class people with nutritious essential food items at affordable prices,” the coalition’s president Kenneth Roldan wrote within the letter obtained by The Post.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani broadcasts the La Marqueta city-owned store. James Keivom for NY Post
The coalition continues to be weighing whether or not to file in state court docket or federal court docket — or each, Roldan advised The Post in an interview on Wednesday.
“We are at the 11th hour — we have multiple versions of the lawsuits that have been prepared,” Roldan stated. “The federal case will be based on antitrust and predatory pricing. The state cause of action will be tortuous interference and possibly discriminatory practices by the administration.”
He added that the group — which represents Asian, African, Caribbean, Hispanic, Middle Eastern and Jewish-owned companies in New York — has been repeatedly rebuffed by City Hall since May when it first requested conferences with the socialist mayor.
The metropolis lately issued a request for proposals and is looking for operators for 5 city-owned supermarkets that can value taxpayers $70 million. Bids are due Oct. 16.
The metropolis’s RFP “demonstrates a lack of understanding of the supermarket industry and raises questions about the efficacy of the plan,” in accordance to the letter, including that city-owned grocers “could paralyze their operations, reduce their slim profit margins or even force some out of business entirely.”
“We are asking the mayor to avoid litigation to sit down with us,” Mark Jaffe, who’s legal counsel to the group and president of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce advised The Post. “But we have to try to stop this if they won’t listen to us.”
Whistleblower Frank Garcia in his Gramercy Park condo in New York on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. The Hispanic business chief alleges a honcho for a Mamdani-linked PAC illegally provided him a high metropolis job and a seat on the transition crew if he might raise $500,000 to $1 million in three days. (Helayne Seidman 2025) Helayne Seidman
The metropolis’s plan requires present grocery store operators to run the 5 shops – which won’t have to pay rent or taxes as a result of the buildings are owned by the federal government – and to present a 30% low cost on fundamental objects like produce, meat, milk, cheese and bread.
City Hall initiatives the markdown will save consumers an average of $90 a month or $1,000 a yr, roughly round 15% off their invoice.
Nearly $40 million has been earmarked for the primary two chosen places – in Harlem and the Bronx at Hunts Point – whereas the remaining three nonetheless don’t have confirmed websites.
There are about 15 food bodegas and grocery shops within 5 blocks of La Marqueta in East Harlem.
A Food Bazaar Supermarket is positioned throughout the road from one of the town’s proposed websites for a sponsored grocery store. Google Maps
“How can a Food Bazaar right across the street from La Marqueta not be affected by such discounts?” stated Jaffe.
The potential plaintiffs in a lawsuit are additionally involved about retaliation from metropolis officers, in accordance to the coalition’s chairman, Frank Garcia.
“There is a lot of fear that Mamdani will go after the plaintiffs,” Garcia stated.
